Comfort

1Thes.3:[1] Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;[2] And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:[3] That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.[4] For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as itcame to pass, and ye know.[5] For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.[6] But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:[7] Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:The mutual faith of others may be a comfort to the brethren. Important reason to be in church is to be a comfort to others.

The Bible teaches we, as Christians, are appointed to afflictions. (vs. 3-4) The source of our tribulation is the devil. (vs. 5) We do not have a choice in the matter. Tribulation will come to us as long as we try to serve the Lord. Through no fault of our own it will find us. It is up to us how we handle these situations. Does it make our faith weaker or stronger ? Does it drive us away from the Lord or closer? The church at Thessalonica continued on. (vs. 6) The Apostle Paul drew comfort from the attitude and faith under duress of the people at Thessalonica. We too can draw comfort from those who through deep trials overcame and continued moving forward for the Lord.

Rom.15:[1] We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.[2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.[3] For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.[4] For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Looking at verse four we find we can draw comfort in times of need from the lessons of the past. The Bible is full of those who have served God and the dark times that fell upon them. God, who is Faithful, brought them through their trials. God will never leave our side. Perhaps one of the best comforts a Christian will find is the Word of God. (vs. 4)

1Cor.14:[1] Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.[2] For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.[3] But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Hearing the preaching of God’s Word is a comfort to believers. (vs. 3) It is not the time to stray when trials hit but indeed the time to draw closer to God. I am troubled by the ease with which some folks stay out of church. In the evil days of now there is a more pressing need for the preaching of God’s Word. And in times of trials even more of a need to hear the Word of God preached.

2Cor.1:[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:[2] Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.[3] Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;[4] Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in anytrouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.[5] For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.[6] And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.[7] And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.[8] For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:[9] But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:[10] Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;[11] Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

God is a comfort to His children. Please note the scripture makes no promise as to the removal of the trial but the promise is God will comfort you. The strength of a Christian is not to how quickly the trial ends but what they do through the trial. Do they continue to praise God? Do they continue to do His will? Do they just keep moving forward? Listen folks, we are to maintain our faith and our walk all the way to the grave. Our investment is not in this world but in the world beyond the grave. As indicated by the passage, our walk in trials is a strength to others who also face trials. We not only draw comfort from God but we can be a comfort to others who see our testimony under fire. We must remember to pray for each other and hold each other up in spirit.

2Cor.7:[4] Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.[5] For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.[6] Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;[7] And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

The fellowship of fellow Christians is a comfort in times of trouble. Christians should not isolate themselves in times of trial but rather actively seek a brother or sister in Christ. If we know of someone who is experiencing dark times we need to reach out to them and acknowledge their pain and let them know we are there with them and praying for them.

Phil 1:[29] For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;[30] Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.Phil.2:[1] If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,[2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

We should draw comfort in the fact of God loves us. We need to draw comfort knowing our fellow Christians love us. In times of trial a Christian should seek every opportunity to fellowship with the brethren and to draw comfort from the fellowship.

1Thes.4:[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.Everything in this world is temporary. Let me repeat this, everything in this world is temporary. Life itself is transient. We may be here today and gone tomorrow. The comfort of being a Christian is the knowledge this world is not the end of it all but when we leave it is only the beginning. We have been passed from death unto life. We are to comfort ourselves in the knowledge that our faith is for the next life not this one. As the Apostle Paul wrote ‘if in this life only we have hope we are of all men most miserable.‘ Our comfort is in the fact our faith goes beyond this world. All of our hope is invested on the other side. We have the hope that Christ will not leave us in this wicked world but when the time comes He will gloriously take us out of this cursed world and we will be safe with Him while the wrath of God is poured out. (1 Thes 5:8-11)

2Thes.2:[13] But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:[14] Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.[15] Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether byword, or our epistle.[16] Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,[17] Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.